BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of August 21, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.      Minutes for week of August 14, 2007.

2.      Resolution 2007-35 Creation of Wind River Business Park Fund.

3.      Approve request from Port of Skamania County for .09 funds.

4.      Approve Amendment B to the Skamania county FY 07 Wireline/Wireless Operations contract #E07-011.

5.      Voucher and Application for License renewal with Department of Social and Health Services.

 

Two items were removed from the Consent Agenda by Commissioner Pearce and approved in separate motions.

1.      Commissioner Richardson moved, Commissioner Tolfree seconded, and motion carried unanimously to approve Re-Classification of Treasurer’s Chief Deputy job description.

2.      Commissioner Tolfree moved, Commisssioner Richardson seconded and motion carried unanimously to approve Contract with BCI Group to provide Agency Representation for Group Health Insurance and Related Benefits.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion unanimously carried to revise Summer College hiring procedures.

 

Larry Douglass, Public Works Director reported on the Rock Creek slide, Timber Removal Project, Private Road Standards, Engineering projects, County Road projects, ER&R, Solid Waste, and Building Department.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:13 a.m. Tuesday, August 21, 2007 and reconvened at 10:48 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board went into Executive Session to discuss litigation.

 

Scott Pineo, Recreation and Facilities Director reported on Facility Use, Community Education/Recreation Programming, Swim Pool, Special Events, Upcoming Events, 2007 Skamania County Fair and Timber Carnival and July Facilities man hours.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday, August 21, 2007 and reconvened at 11:48 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

A proposed Title III Project for 2008 was presented as follows:

Skamania County Forest Explorers, sponsored by Northwest Service Academy.  Jim Wells and Garry Hanley provided a synopsis, and objective for the program now in its third year being funded by Skamania County Title III monies. A multi-year program designed to develop and implement an after school forest ecology education program for 4th through 8th grade students attending the following schools: Cape Horn-Skye, Canyon Creek, Skamania, Mill A, and Mt. Pleasant; and a 5day/4night residential summer camp at USFS Camp Adams for students ages 10 to 15 offered in two sessions.  Total funding request for 2008 is $61,711.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, August 21, 2007 and reconvened at 1:32 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

 A public hearing was held to consider an application from Swift Creek Estates for a change of classification from Current Use Timber Land to Current Use Open Space for tax parcel 07-06-26-0-0-0700-00, 6.14 acres located in Section 27, Township 7 North, Range 6 East, WM.   Gabe Spencer of the Assessor’s Office gave a staff report and recommended approval of the application. Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve the application.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-26 committing .09 funds to the Port of Skamania County’s District Wide Economic Impact Feasibility Study.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:42 p.m. Tuesday, August 21, 2007 and reconvened at 3:59 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board went into Executive Session to interview Community Health Officer candidate.

 

A public hearing was held to receive public comments regarding the adoption of Ordinance 2007-09 establishing and extending for six months the moratorium on the acceptance and processing of building, mechanical and/or plumbing permits on any parcel of land 20 acres or larger that was created by deed since February 16, 2006, the acceptance and processing of land divisions (subdivisions and short subdivisions) creating lots of less than 10 acres, on the construction/placement of more than one single-family dwelling per legal lot of record, and the acceptance and processing of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklists related to forest practice conversions for any parcel located within Township 6 North, Range 5 East; Township 7 North, Range 5 East; Township 6 North, Range 6 East; and Township 7 North, Range 6 East, Willamette Meridian, until the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the proposed Swift Subarea Plan and the Critical Areas Update Process are complete.  Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director gave a staff report.  Comments from the public included being in favor of extending the moratorium because of concerns for wildlife habitat, road maintenance, fire protection, emergency services and the need for the critical area ordinance to be in place.  Property owners from the area are asking that the moratorium be lifted and for criteria to be set so that projects currently underway can be finished up and relief from financial burden can be extinguished. 

 

A public hearing was held to receive public comments regarding the adoption of Ordinance 2007-10 to establish for six months a moratorium on the acceptance and processing of building, mechanical and/or plumbing permits on any parcel of land 20 acres or larger that was created by deed since January 1, 2006, the acceptance and processing of land divisions (subdivisions and short subdivisions), and the acceptance and processing of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklists related to forest practice conversions for any parcel located within unincorporated Skamania County that is not currently located within a zoning classification or the area generally known as the Swift Subarea of Skamania County until the zoning classifications related to the 2007 Comprehensive Plan and the Critical Areas Update Process are complete.  Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director gave a staff report.  Comments from the public included both support and opposition to continuing the moratorium.

 

The meeting recessed at 6:12p.m. Tuesday, August 21, 2007 and reconvened at 9:17 a.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss Rock Creek Slide, Project Reviews, Washington State General Administration Program, Dewatering Wells, Stevenson Well, Private Road Ordinance, and Marble Road Intersection with no action taken. 

 

The meeting recessed at 9:36 a.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2007 and reconvened at 10:27 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss Planning Commission Interest Letters and pending application list, Interlocal agreement with Klickitat County to process all Condit Dam applications, opt out of Skamania Co. participating in WRIA 29b and Klickitat Co. opt out of participating in WRIA 29a, contract planning for Klickitat County, they adopt ordinance and contract with Skamania County to process NSA permits with no action taken

 

The meeting recessed at 10:52 a.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2007 and reconvened at 11:24 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Recreation and Facilities Director and Architects for Rock Creek Community Services Center to discuss bids with no action taken. 

 

The meeting recessed at 12:21 p.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2007 and reconvened at 1:45 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:47 p.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2007 and reconvened at 1:58 pm with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree  present. The Board went into Executive Session to discuss personnel.

 

Commissioner Tolfree excused herself to attend an out of town meeting at 2:15 p.m.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Administrative Services Director to discuss Budgets, Personnel, Title III, annual leave and German Exchange Student with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:24 p.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2007 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Auditor to discuss payroll issues with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:15 p.m.Wednesday, August 22, 2007 and reconvened at 3:24 p.m. the same date with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson  present.

 

The Board went into Executive Session to discuss personnel.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:40 p.m.Wednesday, August 22, 2007 and reconvened at 11:13 a.m. Thursday, August 23, 2007 with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.  Commissioner Pearce was attending a Legislative Steering Committee meeting in Olympia.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending August 23, 2007 in the total amount of $285,453.04.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:14 a.m. on August 22, 2007 and reconvened at 11:41 a.m. Thursday, August 23, 2007 with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.  Commissioner Pearce was attending a Legislative Steering Committee meeting in Olympia.

 

The Board went into Executive Session to discuss litigation.

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:24 p.m. Thursday, August 23, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON